Abishan Jeevinth fulfils childhood dream by riding an auto rickshaw
Synopsis
Between superhit films and Rajinikanth's personal encouragement, director-actor Abishan Jeevinth took a moment to ride an auto rickshaw — and called it his inner child's dream come true. The candid Instagram post is a small but telling window into the personality behind Tamil cinema's newest double-threat talent.
Key Takeaways
Abishan Jeevinth posted an Instagram video on Tuesday riding an auto rickshaw, describing it as fulfilling his inner child's dream.
Both his films — 'Tourist Family' (director) and 'With Love' (actor) — have been declared superhits.
Rajinikanth personally encouraged Abishan to act, telling him 'Nee Nadi Kanna' at a meeting at his home, clearing the director's doubts about acting.
Director Madhan , who co-directed 'Tourist Family' , cast Abishan as the lead in 'With Love' even before the former film had released.
Abishan has said 'With Love' will always remain special to him, regardless of future projects.
Director and actor Abishan Jeevinth, known for back-to-back superhit Tamil films 'Tourist Family' and 'With Love', on Tuesday shared a video of himself riding an auto rickshaw, describing the moment as his inner child fulfilling a long-held dream. The clip, posted on his Instagram page, shows a friend seated beside him in the driver's seat, guiding him through the experience.
The Instagram Moment
In the caption accompanying the video, Abishan Jeevinth wrote: 'My inner child is fulfilling his dreams', accompanied by a smiley. The lighthearted post quickly drew attention from fans and followers, offering a candid, personal glimpse into the filmmaker's life beyond the sets.
Rajinikanth's Words That Changed Everything
The auto ride moment comes from a director whose journey into acting was itself shaped by an unexpected push from Superstar Rajinikanth. Ahead of the release of 'With Love', Abishan revealed that he had agreed to act but was gripped by self-doubt. It was Rajinikanth who called him home and told him, 'Nee Nadi Kanna' — meaning 'You act, dear one' — that dissolved his hesitation entirely.
Abishan recalled: 'I had given my assent for acting but then I began having doubts after seeing certain things. I was not sure about whether I should turn an actor. That was the time, Superstar Rajinikanth sir called me to his home and said to me, Nee Nadi kanna.' He added that those words made him resolve: 'I decided I would do this movie no matter what.' He dedicated whatever success 'With Love' received to Rajinikanth.
The Bond With Director Madhan
Abishan Jeevinth also credited Madhan, director of 'With Love', for spotting his potential as a lead actor even before 'Tourist Family' had released. 'Madhan came as my co-director for Tourist Family. Even before Tourist Family could release, he asked me if I would act as the lead in this film,' Abishan recalled. He added: 'No matter how many films I do, this film will always remain special. I am proud about having done this film.'
From Debut Superhit to Rising Star
Abishan Jeevinth first shot to prominence when his debut directorial 'Tourist Family' emerged a superhit. The success of 'With Love' — in which he also starred as the lead — cemented his standing as one of Tamil cinema's more versatile new voices, equally comfortable behind and in front of the camera. The auto-riding video is a reminder that, amid the acclaim, the filmmaker retains a grounded, playful identity his audience clearly connects with.
Point of View
But it points to something strategically smart: Tamil cinema's newer stars are building parasocial equity through unfiltered, relatable content at a time when the gap between star and audience is narrowing on social media. For a director-turned-actor who needed Rajinikanth's personal nudge to step in front of the camera, leaning into vulnerability and everyday moments is consistent branding — not just a casual post. Whether this translates into sustained box-office loyalty will depend on the quality of what comes next, but the personal narrative is being managed carefully.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Abishan Jeevinth post on Instagram?
Abishan Jeevinth posted a video of himself riding an auto rickshaw on Tuesday, captioning it 'My inner child is fulfilling his dreams.' A friend seated beside him in the driver's seat was seen guiding him through the ride.
Which films has Abishan Jeevinth directed and acted in?
Abishan Jeevinth directed 'Tourist Family', which became a superhit, and later acted as the lead in 'With Love', directed by Madhan. Both films have been described as superhits.
How did Rajinikanth influence Abishan Jeevinth's acting career?
Rajinikanth called Abishan to his home and told him 'Nee Nadi Kanna' — meaning 'You act, dear one' — at a time when Abishan was having serious doubts about stepping in front of the camera. Abishan has credited those words with resolving his hesitation entirely.
Who is Madhan and what is his connection to Abishan Jeevinth?
Madhan served as co-director on 'Tourist Family' and later directed 'With Love', in which he cast Abishan as the lead actor. Abishan has said he approached Madhan even before 'Tourist Family' released to offer him the lead role.
Why is Abishan Jeevinth considered a notable new voice in Tamil cinema?
Abishan gained recognition as a director with the superhit debut 'Tourist Family' and then successfully transitioned to acting with 'With Love', making him one of the few Tamil filmmakers to achieve back-to-back hits both behind and in front of the camera.
